Continuous analysis of beverages

Abstract

A method and analysis system for the continuous on-stream chromatographic analysis of beverages such as beer. Also disclosed are novel bypass filter devices that are especially suitable for use in the analysis system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bypass filter comprising first and second filter means separated by a filter spacer and secured between first and second filter body halves in a filtrate receiving cavity defined by adjoining portions of said first and second filter body halves; wherein said first and second filter body halves each contain a sample receiving cavity therein open to a substantial amount of the adjoining surface of the adjoining filter means, an inlet port communicating with said filter body half sample receiving cavity in such a manner that when liquid is passed into said port it will flow around the periphery of said sample receiving cavity in swirling motion, and a retentate outlet port allowing liquid to flow out of said sample receiving cavity without flowing through the adjoining filter means; wherein said filter spacer contains a cavity therein providing communication between said first and second filter means; wherein said filter spacer further contains an outlet providing for communication between said filter spacer cavity and said filtrate receiving cavity; and wherein there is a filtrate outlet port in communication with said filtrate receiving cavity to allow filtrate to flow out of said bypass filter. 
     
     
       2. A bypass filter according to claim 1 including sealing means between the two filter body halves and between each filter body half and the adjoining perimeter of each filter means. 
     
     
       3. A bypass filter according to claim 2 wherein said first and second filter means each comprises a first filter for small materials adjacent said filter spacer and a second filter for larger materials superimposed upon the side of said first filter that is opposite the side that is adjacent to said filter spacer. 
     
     
       4. A bypass filter according to claim 3 wherein said filter spacer comprises two C-rings secured together such that the open portions of the C-rings provide the filter spacer cavity with two opposed outlet ports for communication with said filtrate receiving cavity. 
     
     
       5. A bypass filter according to claim 3 wherein said first filter of said first and second filter means is designed to filter out material greater than 10 microns in size and wherein said second filter of said first and second filter means is designed to filter out material greater than 100 microns in size. 
     
     
       6. A bypass filter according to claim 5 wherein said second filter of said first and second filter means is a polymeric fiber mesh gauze each surface of which has parallel rows of square raised portions having therebetween inverted pyramidal portions. 
     
     
       7. A bypass filter according to claim 5 wherein said filter spacer comprises two C-rings secured together such that the open portions of the C-rings provide the filter spacer cavity with two opposed outlet ports for communication with said filtrate receiving cavity. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for filtering a fluid stream while simultaneously cleaning the filter medium comprising, a bypass filter comprising a filter body, an inlet in said filter body to allow the fluid to be filtered to enter said filter body, a first outlet in said filter body to allow filtrate to exit the filter body, a filter means separating said inlet and said first outlet, and a second outlet in open communication with said inlet such as to allow material too large to flow through the filter means to exit the filter body,   an inlet line connected to the inlet of said bypass filter,   a fluid eductor in said inlet line,   a retentate outlet line connected to said second outlet of said bypass filter so as to provide communication between said second outlet of said bypass filter and said fluid eductor, said eductor being positioned such that liquid flowing through said inlet line will draw liquid from the retentate outlet line into said inlet line,   a valve in said retentate outlet line for maintaining backpressure in said bypass filter,   an outlet in said retentate outlet line at some point between said valve and said eductor,   a plurality of solid cleaning particles in the flow loop defined by the retentate outlet line, the eductor, the inlet line and the bypass filter,   and a filter means in the outlet of said retentate outlet line, said filter means being such that it prohibits the solid cleaning particles from passing out the outlet of said retentate line while allowing materials of smaller particle size to pass out of said outlet.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said solid cleaning particles have a particle size in the range of about 10 to about 30 microns. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said filter means of said bypass filter is an ultrafiltration filter that produces filtrate comprising substantially materials of less than 10,000 molecular weight. 
     
     
       11. In a bypass filter comprising a top member, a bottom member, a sample inlet means, a retentate outlet means, a filtrate outlet means, at least one ultrafiltration packet positioned between said top member and said bottom member, a mesh spacer above and below each said packet, means for clamping said at least one packet and the corresponding mesh spacers between said top and bottom members, means to flow liquid sample through each mesh spacer along the adjoining surface of the adjoining packet and then out said retentate outlet means, and means to allow filtrate from within each said packet to flow out said filtrate outlet means; the improvement comprising means for sealing an area surrounding the said at least one ultrafiltration packet and the corresponding mesh spacers against leakage of liquid outside said bypass filter and means for removing liquid from the bypass filter liquid which accumulates in that area.